The risk of death in patients with pemphigus
vulgaris has been substantially reduced by treat-
ment with systemic corticosteroids.5 Current therapy consists of high doses of corticosteroids plus immunosuppressive agents.6 This combination frequently causes long-term immunosuppression, the consequences of which are now the most
common cause of death in patients with pemphigus vulgaris.7 Patients who do not have a response to corticosteroids plus immunosuppressive agents
or who have severe side effects from this therapy have been successfully treated with intravenous immune globulin,8,9 which can be used as monotherapy and can produce long-term remissions.
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